Chateau Canon 2022
Chateau Canon is a Premier Grand Cru Classé estate located in Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux. It has pockets of vineyards near the town of Saint-Émilion, with a large central plot right on the edge.
Nestled in the heights of the limestone plateau of Saint-Émilion, Château Canon enjoys an exceptional location. Situated on the right bank of Bordeaux, this superb property owes its name to the famous sailor and privateer of the King, Jacques Kanon. Château Canon was awarded the title of Premier Grand Cru Classé de Saint-Émilion in 1954.
Canon was bought by fashion giant Chanel in 1996, and the company began renovating the cellars and vineyards with the aim of modernising the brand.
The 2022 Vintage: A mild, dry winter preceded heat waves in the spring, with temperatures rising throughout the season. Thunderstorms occurred during the transition from spring to summer. The limestone soils favoured water conservation on the plateau, despite a summer marked by drought and intense heat.
Vinification: Vinification by plots, in stainless steel vats with gravity-fed temperature control. The grapes are carefully blended to get the most out of each one: Merlot brings softness, finesse and intense fruit aromas, while Cabernet Franc brings structure and extra ageing potential. Aged for 18 months in barrels (50% new), including 4 foudres.
Grape varieties: Merlot (75%) Cabernet Franc (25%)
The 2022 Canon has turned out brilliantly in bottle. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of sweet raspberries, wild berries and cherries mingled with hints of violets, pencil shavings, black truffle and rose petals, it's full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a dense, enveloping core of fruit underpinned by a chassis of sweet, suave tannins, concluding with a long, saline finish. This is one of the most muscular, broad-shouldered vintages of Canon in recent years, but it retains every bit of its limestone-driven identity. As I wrote two years ago, this is an estate that is delivering its greatest run of vintages since the superb Post War series that preceded the frosts of 1956, and the 2022 is indeed reminiscent of a modern day version of one of those great years. 2030 - 2065
Ripe black cherries, graphite, crushed stone, and a beautiful floral character all define the 2022 Château Canon, another brilliantly pure and seamless wine from this team. Based on 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc, it was raised in 50% new French oak, with a small percentage in foudre. Medium to full-bodied, it’s focused and precise on the palate, with ripe, polished tannins, integrated acidity, and a gorgeous finish. The elegance and purity here are truly striking, and it brings that rare mix of power and elegance. This sensational Saint-Émilion should evolve gracefully for three decades. In my view, it’s the finest Canon ever, surpassing the 2009, 2010, 2015, 2018, 2019, and 2020. 2025 - 2055
The 2022 Canon is a regal wine of total sophistication and class—aromatic, light on its feet and super-expressive. Crushed flowers, chalk, mint, dried herbs, incense and blood orange all race across the palate. Clean saline-inflected notes extend the mid-palate and finish effortlessly. Even with all of the heat and drought of the year, Canon retains its essential, highly refined personality. (AG)
A superb Canon in 2022. Supple, shiny, oh so charming, gorgeously sleek and well textured like pure silk but with density to the tannins that grips and coats the mouth, plus you know there's such power and concentration underneath in the waves of liquorice, stones, blackcurrant fruit. Extremely polished and charming. Vibrant, energetic, tense, and straight. It's not plush, more direct, but this wine thrills. Seamless and effortless, bright and energetic but with such a calm control and confidence. (GH)
Fascinating dark aromas such as cherries and currants as well as Spanish cedar. Umami. Some dried flowers. Medium- to full-bodied, this has juicy and savory fruit such as intense berries with sandalwood and dried-mushroom undertones. Lots going on here. Very muscular for Canon but well-formed and beautiful. Minerally and salty at the end. 75% merlot and 25% cabernet franc. Best after 2022.
Well structured, an exceptional wine, and one that will age without a worry. Great depth to the creamy black, blue and red fruits, enjoyable sage and white pepper spice, touches of lemongrass and mandarin peel, plenty of concentration, has signature and complexity, with an ocean spray salinity on the finish. 45hl/h yield after careful vineyard work to protect the grapes from the heat, aged in 50% new oak, including four large oak casks, in organic conversion.
This lovely wine really goes to the limit of unexpected freshness in 2022! Subtle and limpid and dangerously approachable. The lively calcaire note is very obvious. Clean and pure. Lots buried in there. Health juice/mouthwash. More lifted than the Rauzan-Ségla and less concentrated.
Drink 2030– 2050
